Compressor



K. H. RHODES Feb. 18, 1964 COMPRESSOR Filed July 9, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fUnited States Patent Ollice Patented Fehr.. l, 19534 3,121,528 CMlBRESSGR Keith il. Rhodes, Racine, Wis., assigner to Weiher Mannacturing Company, acine, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Filed .lilly 9, i962, Ser. No. 293,336 3 Claims. (Cl. 23d-139) This invent-ion relates generally to compressors, and more particularly to a novel vacuum operated air cornpressor of relatively simple and economical construction.

Commercially available air compressors are generally driven by an external prime mover, for example, an electric motor, internal combustion engine, etc. Such known air compressors generally comprise a number of close tolerance components and therefore inherently necessitate a high degree of care in manufacture and assembly. As a result, the real cost of such known air compressors reflects relative high manufacturing costs as well as a relatively expensive prime mover.

The present invention is directed to a novel air cornpressor that can be produced at a minimum cost, and which includes an integral prime mover. Both the compressor and prime mover consist or relatively inexpensive stampings, commercially available tubing and plastic sheet material that is cut to specific configurations.

Accordingly, one object of the present invention is an improved compressor.

Another object is a vacuum operated air compressor.

Another object is an air compressor having an integral prime mover.

Other advantages of the instant invention will be apparent from the following specification, claims and drawings, wherein:

FGURE l is a sectional View taken through the compressor or the instant invention;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 2 2 of FlGURE l;

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIGURE 2; and

FIGURE 4 is an exploded perspective view or the internal components of the air compressor I'with the housing thereof removed.

An air compressor lli, in accordance with an exemplary constructed embodiment of the instant invention, comprises a motor section il and a compressor section l2. The compressor section l2 comprises a tubular compressor housing 13 made from, for example, 16-gauge steel tubing. One end portion 14 of the compressor rousing 13 is secured to a bearing retainer lo, comprising a pair of juxtaposed cup members i7 and ld, as by brazing.

An inner compressor disc is.` positioned axially of the housing l2 against the retainer i6. The disc is made from, for example, nylon sheet material cut to a generally circular configuration complementary to the compressor housing i2 and is retained therein `in substantially scaled relationship.

The disc El? has an air inlet aperture 2,?. (FlGURES 3 and 4) therein that communicates with an air inlet chamber 24 `between the bearing retainer i6 and the disc 2li. Air entering through the inlet chamber 24 passes through the inlet aperture 22 in the disc 2li, thence into a compression chamber 23 internally ol the compressor housing l2. The disc 26d also has a circular aperture 3i) therein for the acceptance of a drive shaft 32 from the vacuum motor section ll, as will be described.

A compressor rotor lll made from, for example, aluminum bar stock, has a central bore 42 therein for the acceptance of the drive shaft 32 from the vacuum motor section il. rl`he rotor 4d is rotatable with the shaft 32, torque being transmitted thereto as by a pair of conventional lieys 44 and 46.

As best seen in FGURE 2, the rotor itl has three generally radially directed longitudinally extending slots Sti, 52 and Se for the acceptance of a like plurality of vanes .'56, 5d and all, respectively. The vanes 56, SS and all are made from, for example, nylon sheet stock and are slidable within the slots 5l?, 52 and 5mi, respectively. The vanes 5d, 58 and oil move radially outwardly ol' the slots 5t), 52 and 5d in the rotor 4d, due to centri@ ugal force upon rotation, outer edge portions 62, ed and de or the vanes 56, 53 and 60, respectively, slidably engaging an inner peripheral surface '79 of the compressor housing '3.3 thereby to help define the compression chamber 28. The van-es de, Sii and elli are biased radially inwardly of the housing due to engagement with the inner peripheral surface 7d thereof upon rotation.

An outer compressor disc 5tlrnade from, for example, nylon sheet material, is held in juxtaposed relation against an outer end portion di?. of the rotor itl by an end cap 53 thereby to function as an end wall for the compression chamber 23. rl`he outer compressor disc Sti has a dicharge aperture 84 (FlGURE-S 2 and 3) therein that communicates with a discharge chamber :$5 and a discharge nipple 86 on the outer end cap 53. rEhe end cap 83 has an annular rib @il therein that bears against and positions the outer disc du axially of the compressor housing 13. The end cap 83,` is secured to the housing i3 as by a press lit.

A drive -p-in 9d' extends through complementary aligned apertures 21 and 9d in the end cap d3 and disc Sil, respectively, to position the disc 3d' within the compressor housing l and preclude rotation thereof. It is to be noted that an inner end portion 96 of the drive pin gli extends into the central bore 42 in the rotor to avoid interference therewith.

The vacuum motor section 11 comprises a tubular housing lll@ made from, for example, l6-gauge steel tubing.

A motor end cap has an annular rib ld therein that positions an outer motor disc 163 axially of the motor housing 19d. The disc lS is made from, for example, nylon sheet material cut to a circular coniiguration complementary to the housing itil?. The disc ltl has an air discharge aperture lid (FGURES 3 and 4) therein that communicates with a vacuum chamber' i12 between the end cap and the disc lil. An air pressure depression produced by, for example, the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine (not shown) communicates `with the chamber ll?. through suitable tubing (not shown) that is secured to a nipple lill in the end cap ldd. A drive pin lili extends through aligned apertures l2@ and 1216` in the cap 104i and disc ld to preclude rotation of the disc luid.

A working chamber i3dis defined internally of the housing will and has a vacuum motor rotor l5" therein made from, for example, aluminum bar stock. rl`he rotor i-.Sll a central bore i532 therein -for the acceptance of the drive shaft 32. Rotation of the rotor liil is transmitted to the drive shaft 30 as by a pair of conventional keys i54- and ido,

The rotor 15d has` three generally radially directed longitudinally extending slots ldd, 16.2` and led (HG- URE 4), for the acceptance ol a like plurality of vanes 1de, idd and li, respectively. The vanes 166, idd and ltl are made from, for example, nylon and are slidable radially outwardly of the slots loll, lidi?, and lfd, respectively, due to centrifugal force. Outer edge portions lZ, 174 and id of the vanes 166i, il d and lift?, respectively, slidably engage an inner peripheral surface 18@ (FGURE l) of the vacuum motor housing lill).

An inner motor disc 26d made from, for example, nylon sheet stock, is juxtaposed against the cup member energias 18 of the bearing retainer 16 to function as an end wall for the vacuum motor il. The disc 2li@ has an inlet aperture lill (FIGURE 4) therein that communicates With the inlet chamber 2dand the working chamber ltl in the motor section 1l.

As noted hereinbefore, the bearing retainer le cornprises a pair of complementary generally cup shaped stampings 17 and i8 having ali-gned apertures 22d, Z22 'and 224i therein to facilitate the flow of air Within the chamber 2li. The member ,i7 has an annular lip 230 that is accepted in the aperture 36 in the disc Ztl, and the member 13 has an annular lip 232 that is accepted in a complementary aperture 234 in the disc 209, thereby to position the discs Ztl and Miti, respectively, and effect a seal between the retainer lid and the discs Ztl' and Ztll.

An annular spacer member 240 is `disposed between the members 17 and l for the retention of a pair of ball bearings 242 and 246. The bearings are spaced axially of one another to journal the drive shaft 32 which transmits rotation of the rotor l5@ of the vacuum motor 11 to the rotor 4d of the compressor l2.

As best seen in FIGURE 3, the end cap 164, motor housing ltltl, retainer l'fcompressor housing i3 and end cap 83 are retained in iixed relationship by a pai-r of retainer rods 2S@ and 252 that extend longitudinally of the compressor section l2 and motor section il.

From the foregoing description, it should be apparent that the air compressor of the instant invention is made u-p from relatively simple components that can be manufactured without emphasizing close tolerances. The compressor section comprises a simple tubular housing having nylon discs at opposite ends thereof to define a cornpression chamber. The discs are stamped lfrom nylon sheet stock to a configuration complementary to the housing and with appropriate inlet and outlet apertures. The compressor rotor is fabricated from aluminum bar stock With longitudinal slots therein for the acceptance of a plurality of radially slidable vanes. The vanes are made from nylon sheet stock.

An integral vacuum motor section is constructed in a manner similar to the compressor section and effects drive of the compressor through a self contained drive shaft. The drive shaft is journaled by a relatively simple bearing retainer.

It should be apparent that only a vacuum line need be connected to the vacuum motor section of the compressor to effect energization of the air compressor.

It is to be understood that the specific construction of the improved air compressor herein disclosed and described is presented for the purpose of explanation and illustration and is not intended to indicate the limitations of the invention, the scope of which is defined by the following olaims.

What is claimed is:

1. An air compressor having an integral vacuum driven prime mover comprising a pair of axially aligned cylindrical housings,

a pair of end caps at `opposite ends of said housings,

respectively,

.a bearing retainer between said housings,

a bearing in said bearing retainer having a central axis radially spaced from the central axis of said housings,

a drive shaft journaled in said bearing and extending into said housings,

:an inlet disc in one of said housings adjacent said bearing retainer having an inlet aperture therein, an outlet disc adjacent the end cap at the end of said one housing having an outlet aperture therein, `a generally cylindrical compressor rotor between said inlet and outlet discs drivably keyed to said drive shaft so as to :be rotatable about an axis extending generally parallel to .the central axis of said hous i ings in radially spaced relation thereto, said compressor' rotor having a plurality of generally axially extending radially directed slots,

a plurality of generally radially slidable vanes in the slots in said `compressor rotor, said vanes slidably engaging the inner peripheral surface of said one housing and said inlet and outlet discs to define a variable volume chamber for the compression of air therein upon rotation of said compressor rotor relative to said one housing,

an inner disc in the other of said housings adjacent said bearing retainer having an inlet aperture therein,

an outer disc adjacent the end cap of said other housing having an outlet aperture therein,

a generally cylindrical vacuum motor rotor between said inner and outer discs having a central bore therein fo-r the acceptance of said drive shaft so as to be rotatable coaxially With said compressor rotor, said motor rotor having a plurality of generally axially extending radially directed slots, and

a plurality of generally radially slidable vanes in the slots in said motor rotor, said vanes slidably engaging the inne-r peripheral surface of said other housing and said inner and outer discs to define a variable volume vacuum ychamber whereby rotation of said motor rotor relative to said other housing effects concomitant rotation of said compressor rotor.

2. An air compressor having an integr-al vacuum driven prime mover comprising a pair of axially aligned cylindrical housings,

a bearing retainer betwee-n said housings,

a bearing in said bearing retainer having a central axis radially spaced from the central axis of said housings,

a drive shaft journaled in said bearing and extending into said housings,

a plastic inlet disc at one end of one of said housings adjacent sai-d bearing retainer having an inlet aperture therein,

a plastic outlet disc at the other end of said one housing having an outlet aperture therein,

a generally cylindrical compressor rotor between said inlet and outlet discs drivably keyed to said drive shaft so as to be rotatable about an axis extending generally parallel to the central axis of said housings in radially spaced relation thereto, said compressor rotor having a plurality of generally axially extending radially directed slots,

a plurality of generally radially slidable plastic vanes in the slots in said compressor rotor, respectively, said vanes slidably engaging the inner peripheral surface of said one housing and said inlet and outlet discs to define a variable volume chamber for the compression of air therein upon rotation of said compressor rotor relative to said one housing,

a plastic inner disc in the other of said housings adjacent said bearing retainer having an inlet aperture therein,

a plastic outer disc at the other end of said other housing having an outlet aperture therein,

a generally cylindrical vacuum motor rotor between said inner and outer discs having a central bore therein for the acceptance of said drive shaft so as to be rotatable coaxially with said compressor rotor, said motor rotor having a plurality of generally axially extending radially directed slots,

a plurality of generally radially slidable plastic vanes in the slots in said motor rotor, respectively, said vanes slidably engaging the inner peripheral surface of said other housing and said inner and outer discs to define a variable volume vacuum chamber, and means for connecting said vacuum chamber to an air pressure depression whereby rotation of said rnotor rotor relative to said. other housing etiects concomitant rotation of said compressor rotor. 3. An air compressor having an integral vacuum motor drive comprising a pair of axially aligned cylindrical housings, a bearing retainer between said housings, a bearing in said bearing retainer having a central axis radially spaced from the central axis of said housings, a drive shaft journaled in said bearing and extending into said housings, a plastic inlet disc at one end of one of said housings adjacent said bearing retainer having an inlet aperture therein, a plastic outlet disc at the other end of said one housing having an outlet aperture therein circumferentially spaced from the inlet aperture in said inlet disc, a generally cylindrical compressor rotor between said inlet and outlet discs drivably keyed to said drive shaft so as to be rotatable about the axis thereof,

said compressor rotor having a plurality of generally axially extending radially directed slots, a plurality of generally radially slidable plastic vanes in the slots in said compressor rotor, respectively, said vanes slidably engaging the inner peripheral surface of said one housing and said inlet and outlet ldiscs to define a variable volume chamber for the compression of an` therein upon rotation of said compressor rotor relative to said one housing, a plastic inner disc in the other of said housings adjacent said bearing retainer having an inlet aperture therein, a plastic outer d-isc at the other end of said other housing having an outlet aperture therein circumferentially spaced from the inlet aperture in said inner disc, a generally cylindrical vacuum motor rotor between said inner and outer discs having a central bore therein for the acceptance of said drive shaft so as to be rotatable coaxially with said compressor rotor, said motor rotor having a plurality of generally axially extending radially directed slots, a plurality of generally radially slidable plastic vanes in the slots in said motor rotor, respectively, said vanes slidably engaging the inner peripheral surface,

of said other housing and s aid inner and outer discs to define a variable volume vacuum chamber, and

means for connecting s"aid vacuum chamber to an air pressure depression whereby rotation of said motor rotor lrelative to said other housing effects concomitant rotation of said compressor rotor.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

1. AN AIR COMPRESSOR HAVING AN INTEGRAL VACUUM DRIVEN PRIME MOVER COMPRISING A PAIR OF AXIALLY ALIGNED CYLINDRICAL HOUSINGS, A PAIR OF END CAPS AT OPPOSITE ENDS OF SAID HOUSINGS, RESPECTIVELY, A BEARING RETAINER BETWEEN SAID HOUSINGS, A BEARING IN SAID BEARING RETAINER HAVING A CENTRAL AXIS RADIALLY SPACED FROM THE CENTRAL AXIS OF SAID HOUSINGS, A DRIVE SHAFT JOURNALED IN SAID BEARING AND EXTENDING INTO SAID HOUSINGS, AN INLET DISC IN ONE OF SAID HOUSINGS ADJACENT SAID BEARING RETAINER HAVING AN INLET APERTURE THEREIN, AN OUTLET DISC ADJACENT THE END CAP AT THE END OF SAID ONE HOUSING HAVING AN OUTLET APERTURE THEREIN, A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL COMPRESSOR ROTOR BETWEEN SAID INLET AND OUTLET DISCS DRIVABLY KEYED TO SAID DRIVE SHAFT SO AS TO BE ROTATABLE ABOUT AN AXIS EXTENDING GENERALLY PARALLEL TO THE CENTRAL AXIS OF SAID HOUSINGS IN RADIALLY SPACED RELATION THERETO, SAID COMPRESSOR ROTOR HAVING A PLURALITY OF GENERALLY AXIALLY EXTENDING RADIALLY DIRECTED SLOTS, A PLURALITY OF GENERALLY RADIALLY SLIDABLE VANES IN THE SLOTS IN SAID COMPRESSOR ROTOR, SAID VANES SLIDABLY ENGAGING THE INNER PERIPHERAL SURFACE OF SAID ONE HOUSING AND SAID INLET AND OUTLET DISCS TO DEFINE A VARIABLE VOLUME CHAMBER FOR THE COMPRESSION OF AIR THEREIN UPON ROTATION OF SAID COMPRESSOR ROTOR RELATIVE TO SAID ONE HOUSING, AN INNER DISC IN THE OTHER OF SAID HOUSINGS ADJACENT SAID BEARING RETAINER HAVING AN INLET APERTURE THEREIN, AN OUTER DISC ADJACENT THE END CAP OF SAID OTHER HOUSING HAVING AN OUTLET APERTURE THEREIN, A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL VACUUM MOTOR ROTOR BETWEEN SAID INNER AND OUTER DISCS HAVING A CENTRAL BORE THEREIN FOR THE ACCEPTANCE OF SAID DRIVE SHAFT SO AS TO BE ROTATABLE COAXIALLY WITH SAID COMPRESSOR ROTOR, SAID MOTOR ROTOR HAVING A PLURALITY OF GENERALLY AXIALLY EXTENDING RADIALLY DIRECTED SLOTS, AND A PLURALITY OF GENERALLY RADIALLY SLIDABLE VANES IN THE SLOTS IN SAID MOTOR ROTOR, SAID VANES SLIDABLY ENGAGING THE INNER PERIPHERAL SURFACE OF SAID OTHER HOUSING AND SAID INNER AND OUTER DISCS TO DEFINE A VARIABLE VOLUME VACUUM CHAMBER WHEREBY ROTATION OF SAID MOTOR ROTOR RELATIVE TO SAID OTHER HOUSING EFFECTS CONCOMITANT ROTATION OF SAID COMPRESSOR ROTOR. 